Mr. Doherty began his tenure at the department as a sanitation worker in 1960. He worked his way up the ranks and eventually became the department’s 40th commissioner under Mayor Rudy Giuliani, serving from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Bloomberg hired Mr. Doherty as his sanitation commissioner in 2002, and he has been serving ever since.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to Commissioner Doherty – on behalf of all New Yorkers – for his decades of service at the Department of Sanitation,” Mr. de Blasio said in a statement. “He has exhibited leadership, competency and tenacity for New York City in the most challenging times. He has never failed to persevere in the most trying situations. He has always delivered for New Yorkers – when they needed it the most. I could not have been more fortunate to begin my term as mayor with a commissioner like that at my side, especially during my transition. Through his experience and skill at what he does, he shows us – every day – that New Yorkers never avert their eyes to adversity. And that’s in large part because of leaders like John.”